Wind operated electrical generating unit



March 29, 1938. MOON 2,112,633

WIND OPERATED ELECTRICAL GENERATING UNIT Filed Aug. 17, 1936 BY HRTHUR LT T E I EEQ ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 29, 1938 PATENT OFFICE."

2,112,633 wmn organ-ran ELECTRICAL GENERAT- me um'r Arthur L. Moon, Milo, Iowa Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,410

The principal object of my invention is to provide a wind operatedv electrical generating unit wherein a tank or container is fllled with compressed air and controllably released into an air motor for driving an electrical generator.

rangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l'is a side partial sectional view of my completely assembled wind operated generator unit.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the wind operated compressor unit and more fully illustrates its construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view of the air control valve for controlling the speed of the compressed air motor.

There has been a great need for an economically operated source of electricity for individualrural use. Several attempts have been made at individual rural electrification through the use of storage batteries and a gasoline operated, charging generator for the batteries. This type of apparatus is complicated, expensive and requires considerable upkeep. Furthermore, due

to the bulk and size of batteries, it is inadvisable to generate more than 32 volts for farm use,

making necessary special equipment for use on' this current. The batteries deteriorate and must be replaced from time to time. As they are filled with liquid and acid, they are quite messy, and are apt to freeze in the cold weather. Several attempts have been made at rimning the generator for charging these batteries by wind power. However, it takes quite a prolonged generating period to restore the activities of the storage batteries and all of the disadvantages of storage battery use are applicable to this type of installation.

I have overcome these disadvantages as will be appreciated and as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral ill to designate an air storage tank having a comparatively large capacity and being of 5 air tight construction. This tank It! also serves as a tower forthe wind operated propeller. Secured to the upper end of the tank I0 is a combined standard and housing II which supports a ball bearing plate l2 which is ring-shaped and has 10 a groove on its upper surface for containing ball bearings or the like l3. Rotatably mounted on these ball bearings I3 is the bearing plate It having a bearing near its center and having its marginal edge portion cupped and extending down past 15 the marginal edge of the plate l2 to provide a shelter for the bearings and which is free to rotate independent ofthe plate l2.

Rigidly secured to the bearing plate It is a housing IS in which is contained the operating mechanism as is hereinafter described. The numeral l6 designates an air operated impeller, rotatably mounted on the housing l5 and operating a crank shaft I'I through the reduction gears 18 as shown in Fig. 1. The housing l5 has secured to its rear end portion the guiding fin IS'for directing the impeller IE to the most advantageous position relative to the direction of the wind. The

numeral 20 designates a connecting rod having one of its ends operatively, rotatably mounted on the crank shaft l1 and which has rotatably secured to its other end the pump rod 2| as shown in Fig. 2. This pump rod extends through and is bearinged in the bearing plate It at its center and has formed on its lower end a swivel housing 5 22 which receives the upper end of a pump rod 23. The purpose of this swivel is to allow the complete impeller and operating assembly to rotate with regard to wind direction without afiecting the compressing mechanism. The lower end of the pump rod 23 is operatively secured-to a. piston 24 which in turn is operatively slidably mounted in a cylinder 25 of an ordinary air compressor. This air compressor is of the ordinary type having an intake 26 and a valve controlling mechanism 2'! as shown in the drawing. This cylinder 25 communicates with the inside of the tank Ill through a one way valve 28 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Thus as the impeller I6 is rotated by the wind, it will actuate the crank shaft I! which '50 in turn will cause the connecting rod, 20, the pump rod 2| and rod 23 to reciprocate thereby allowing the piston to suck air in through the intake 28 and compress it into the tank l0 through the valve 28.

.The numeral 20 designates a platform rigidly secured near the lower end 01 the tank I3 and which supports an ordinary electrical generator 30 as shown in Pig. 1. The generator 30 has the ordinary lead wires 3| and 32 which are ordinarily connected into an electrical circuit. Mounted on the platform 33 is also an air operated motor 33 which is operatively secured to the generator 33. The numeral 34 designates an air pipe having one end in communication with the inside of the tank It and its other end in communication with a valve 35 which in turn is in operative communication with the motor 33.

By reference to Fig. 3 01 the drawing, it will be noted that this valve 35 is of the manually operated type having the controlling lever 33 and the needle valve 31 for controlling the flow of, air from the tank I! through the motor 33. The numeral 33 designates a hood over the motor and generator unit for sheltering them from the elements.

The practical operation of my device is as follows: The tank It, serving as a tower,.is placed out of doors where it will take advantage 01' all prevailing winds. The wind striking the impeller will actuate the compressor, thereby filling the tank with air under pressure. This air is slowly released through the valve 35 into the motor 33 and actuates the same. The power thus derived actuates the low speed generator 30 allowing current to flow through the wires 3| and 32 into an electrical circuit for operating various electrica devices and lighting facilities.

As the impeller l6 will run at all times that there is a wind, a large volume of air will be compressed within the tank l0 and as only a small amount is necessary to operate the motor 33 a volume of air within the tank will run the motor through prolonged periods 01' calm, thus providing an even, smooth, and reliable source of electrical energy for individual rural use without the use of batteries or other bulky equipment. From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an air operated generating unit a,11a,css

that is extremely economical in use, that derives its power from the air and which stores the air not used in actually generating current for future use. Furthermore, my device requires no upkeep, isi'oolprooi' and is of great utility as a source of inexpensive electric energy.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved wind operated electrical generating unit witthout departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my-claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

In a device of the class described, an elongated upright storage tank designed to hold a supply 01' air under pressure, a combined standard and housing secured to and extending upwardly from the upward end of said tank, a ring secured to the upper end oi. said standard, a plate rotatably mounted on said ring, a housing secured to said plate, an impeller blade rotatably mounted in said housing, a crank shaft operatively secured to said impeller blade, a connecting rod having one end secured to said crank shaft and its other end pivotally secured to one end of the pump rod; said pump rod extending downwardly and slidably mounted through said ring and said plate, a swivel Joint in said pump rod below said ring and within said combined standard and housing,

a compressing unit on said tank operated by said pump rod, a one-way valve in said tank for permitting air to be compressed within said tank by said compressing unit, an outlet in said tank, a manually operated valve in said outlet, and an air operated motor in communication with said outlet through said pump and designed to be operatively secured to an electrical generating unit; said valve for controlling the flow of air from said tank to said motor for the purpose of impelling said motor at a constant speed.

ARTHUR L. MOON. 

